Cerbera Odollam: a 'Suicide Tree' and Cause of Death in the State of Kerala, India - Centre for Suicide PreventionCentre for Suicide Prevention

Year: 2004 Source: Journal of Ethnopharmacology, v.95, no.2-3, (December 2004), p.123-126 SIEC No: 20100512

Cerbera odollam is a tree belonging to the family that includes the yellow & common oleanders. The odollam tree is responsible for about 50 percent of the plant poisoning cases & 10% of the total poisoning cases in Kerala, India. It is used for both suicide & homicide. Approximatley 70-75 percent of suicides, 1989-1999, by this method were by females. The aim of this retrospective study is to call attention to this powerful toxic plant. (16 refs.) JA

Table of Contents

Cerbera Odollam: a ‘Suicide Tree’ and Cause of Death in the State of Kerala, India

Gaillard YKrishnamoorthy ABevalot F